Blind and Visually Impaired Community
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I’m super anxious about my O and M appointment (self.Blind)
submitted by blindnessandbees
Alrighty so I know my O and M trainer quite well, he’s really nice, and I have worked with him before, but recently my sight has gotten really bad. I went from visually impaired to legally blind in a few days and I’ve been adjusting for a while now. With a little pressure from a friend I decided to make an appointment with my O and M trainer. But now I’m quite anxious. I’m scared he thinks I haven’t been doing as well as I think I have been? If that makes sense? I am naturally very independent and want to do as much by myself as I possibly can. I’m just scared that I might have been taking dumb risks.
gracefulltree 13 points 4y ago
The fact that you’re asking for the O&M means that you know you need it and any good instructor will respect the hell out of you for trying and asking!
They know how hard a change like that can be, and they’re not going to judge you.
Good luck! I think you’re doing a great job, and as you get more comfortable and confident, you’ll find yourself being as independent as you want to be.
They know how hard a change like that can be, and they’re not going to judge you.
Good luck! I think you’re doing a great job, and as you get more comfortable and confident, you’ll find yourself being as independent as you want to be.
blindnessandbees [OP] 4 points 4y ago
Thank you so much! It’s been tough adjusting and asking help can be tough, especially since most VI/blind people around me have been blind/VI their whole life. Sometimes I just forget that I’m still kind of a work in process
gracefulltree 3 points 4y ago
I grew up VI but didn’t become legally blind until my early 20’s. Then I spent nearly 20 years slowly losing more and more vision. I had the fortune to have the same O&M guy at 23 and at 35, and he was awesome about being reassuring and just wanting to make sure I could get where I needed to go.
I have friends that have been blind since birth and those that have lost vision slowly over time and those who’ve lost it quickly. There are all kinds of visual impairments, and your instructor knows that.
Just be good to yourself. You’ll figure it out!
I have friends that have been blind since birth and those that have lost vision slowly over time and those who’ve lost it quickly. There are all kinds of visual impairments, and your instructor knows that.
Just be good to yourself. You’ll figure it out!
Drunken_Idaho 2 points 4y ago
I second this. So many people don't even ask. The fact you are going through with getting o and m while still losing vision is awesome.
Keep up the good work.
Keep up the good work.
Mindito 9 points 4y ago
As an O&M myself, there is no reason to be anxious about an appointment. He is only there to help you regain your independence and coupled with your changing vision loss he will understand. Also, everyone that has been taught O&M skills develop “bad habits.” I can promise you that he will not be upset with your skills and will only want to improve upon them/teach alternative skills to help you stay safe.
You will learn different ways of navigating your environment safely and effectively! I give you my up most respect for making this appointment!
Have fun and stay positive!
You will learn different ways of navigating your environment safely and effectively! I give you my up most respect for making this appointment!
Have fun and stay positive!
blindnessandbees [OP] 5 points 4y ago
Thank you! My O&M is part of my school’s care team (I go to a school for the blind and VI) so he kind of sees me on a daily basis. Little while ago he saw me walk into a hedge outside and confronted me about it. I felt kind of judged? I know he didn’t mean any harm but it kind of makes me anxious to be around him
Mindito 1 points 4y ago
So when he confronted you after that event. Did he sound negative about what had just happened or did he give some insight in the reasoning why it may have happened? It might be how he approached the situation and I’m not trying to put words in your mouth but it could have been an embarrassing moment. At the end of the day mistakes will be made but it’s about turning those mistakes into a learning experience.
blindnessandbees [OP] 2 points 4y ago
Maybe a little? I guess it was mostly surprise, because the first time we worked together I had the most sight of all his clients. He’s also just really a tough love kind of guy, which is very understandable as he has worked with teens all his life and we can be stupidly stubborn a lot of the time.
Mindito 1 points 4y ago
Well I have only worked with adults throughout my career so far but I will be changing that shortly. I just accepted a job in a school system. But I don’t know him as much as you do and that could be the case. Vision loss is difficult but you are putting yourself in the right path! If there is a further issue I would say talk to other instructors/ him about how you feel. He should understand exactly where you are coming from.
tasareinspace 3 points 4y ago
I am not an O+M instructor, but my job at work is basically "office lady for the O+M instructors", and I've never heard the O+M people judging a person they're working with for that. They have some great stories! Like the one instructor who nicely asked a lady to move her car that was parked across a cross walk, and the lady told him to F himself. But they work with all kinds of people, and circumstances change! People lose vision, people move house, people get new jobs, there's construction on their route, and they need more O+M. They're not going to judge you, and you should be proud of yourself for getting the instruction you need!!
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(also I've seen you on this reddit a couple times and you seem like a super cool person! Your O+M instructor is lucky to have you)
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(also I've seen you on this reddit a couple times and you seem like a super cool person! Your O+M instructor is lucky to have you)
blindnessandbees [OP] 3 points 4y ago
Thank you so much! I’m fairly new to the world of VI so new perspectives like this always help!
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